U.S. patent number 9,641,945 [Application Number 14/499,231] was granted by the patent office on 2017-05-02 for bluetooth hearing aid system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to UBDEVICE CORP.. The grantee listed for this patent is UBDEVICE CORP.. Invention is credited to Wei-Chieh Chen, Chia-Te Lai.
United States Patent |
9,641,945 |
Chen , et al. |
May 2, 2017 |
Bluetooth hearing aid system
Abstract
A hearing aid system includes a Bluetooth enabled sound output
device and Bluetooth enabled sound output device. The sound output
device has a first processor coupled to a first memory, to a first
Bluetooth module, to a sound processing module including an
amplifier and a speaker, and to a first power supply. The sound
input device has an optional aux jack, and a second processer
coupled to a second memory, to a second Bluetooth module
selectively Bluetooth linkable with the first Bluetooth module, to
a sound input module, and to a second power supply. The sound input
device may adjust audio volume level of audio signals to a default
level before transmission to the sound output device. A second
sound input device may transmit audio signals based to the sound
input device, from which the audio signals are transmitted to the
sound output device.
Inventors: |
Chen; Wei-Chieh (Tao-Yuan
Hsien, TW), Lai; Chia-Te (Miaoli County,
TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UBDEVICE CORP. |
Taoyuan County |
N/A |
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
UBDEVICE CORP. (Taoyuan,
TW)
|
Family
ID: |
55585931 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/499,231 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160094921 A1 |
Mar 31, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R
25/558 (20130101); H04R 25/554 (20130101); H04W
4/80 (20180201); H04R 2225/41 (20130101); H04R
2225/55 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04R
25/00 (20060101); H04W 4/00 (20090101) |
Field of
Search: |
;381/23.1,58,60,312,314,315,320,321 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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101310564 |
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Nov 2008 |
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CN |
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201893928 |
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Jul 2011 |
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CN |
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102113350 |
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Apr 2014 |
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CN |
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2 129 088 |
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Dec 2009 |
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EP |
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201026096 |
|
Jul 2010 |
|
TW |
|
Primary Examiner: Le; Huyen D
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hsu; Winston Margo; Scott
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hearing aid system comprising; a sound output device
comprising a first processor coupled to a first memory, to a first
Bluetooth module, to a sound processing module including an
amplifier and a speaker, and to a first power supply; a sound input
device comprising a second processor coupled to a second memory, to
a second Bluetooth module selectively Bluetooth linkable with the
first Bluetooth module, to a sound input module, and to a second
power supply; and a second sound input device selectively Bluetooth
linkable to the sound input device, the hearing aid system further
configured so that audio signals based on audio signals received by
the second sound input device equalized according to environmental
factors are then transmitted via Bluetooth signals from the second
sound input device to the sound input device, and audio signals
based on the audio signals received by the sound input device are
transmitted via Bluetooth signals from the sound input device to
the sound output device.
2. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the sound input device
further comprises an aux jack configured to connect via a cable to
an external source of audio signals.
3. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the sound input device
is further configured to adjust audio volume level of received
audio signals to a default level before transmission via Bluetooth
signals to the sound output device.
4. The hearing aid system of claim 3 further comprising indication
of the default level being stored in the memory of the sound input
device or in the memory of the sound output device.
5. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the sound input device
further comprises an equalizer configured to filter noises and
predefined frequency bands from received audio signals before
transmission via a Bluetooth signals to the sound output
device.
6. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the sound input device
is configured to selectively Bluetooth link to a plurality of
second sound input devices.
7. The hearing aid system of claim 6 wherein the sound input device
is further configured to combine audio signals received from the
plurality of second sound input devices into a single audio signal
before transmission via a Bluetooth signals to the sound output
device.
8. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the second sound input
device further comprises a third Bluetooth module coupled to a
third processor.
9. The hearing aid system of claim 8 wherein the second sound input
device is configured to operate the third Bluetooth module
independently from operation of the second Bluetooth module.
10. A method of operating hearing aid system comprising; a sound
output device having a first processor coupled to a first memory,
to a first Bluetooth module, to a sound processing module including
an amplifier and a speaker, and to a first power supply; a sound
input device having a second processor coupled to a second memory,
to a second Bluetooth module, to a sound input module, and to a
second power supply; and a second sound input device having a third
processor coupled to a third memory, to a third Bluetooth module,
to a sound input module, to an equalizer, and to a third power
supply; the method comprising; forming a first Bluetooth link
between the first and the second Bluetooth modules; forming a
second Bluetooth link between the second and the third Bluetooth
modules; receiving audio signals via the sound input module of the
second sound input device to generate received audio signals;
equalizing the received audio signals via the equalizer according
to environmental factors to generate equalized audio signals;
transmitting the equalized audio signals from the second sound
input device to the sound input device via the second Bluetooth
link; transmitting the equalized audio signals from the second
Bluetooth module to the first Bluetooth module via the first
Bluetooth link; and the sound processing module of the sound output
device outputting audio signals received by the first Bluetooth
module after amplification to the speaker.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the sound input device further
comprises an aux jack configured to connect via a cable to an
external source of audio signals, the method further comprising
transmitting audio signals received from the external source via
Bluetooth signals from the sound input device to the sound output
device.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the sound input
device adjusting audio volume level of the audio signals to a
default level before transmission via the Bluetooth signals to the
sound output device.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing an indication
of the default level in the memory of the sound input device or in
the memory of the sound output device.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the sound input device further
comprises an equalizer and the method further comprises filtering
noises and predefined frequency bands from the audio signals before
transmission via Bluetooth signals to the sound output device.
15. The method of claim 10 further comprising forming a Bluetooth
link respectively between the sound input device and a plurality of
second sound input devices.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the sound input
device combining audio signals received from the plurality of
second sound input devices into a single audio signal before
transmission via a Bluetooth signals to the sound output
device.
17. The method of claim 10 further comprising comparing a vocalized
sound received by the sound input device to an authorization
password or code stored in the memory of the sound input device,
with the Bluetooth link being formed only when the comparison is
determined a match.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the method further comprises
forming a different network using the third Bluetooth module than a
network formed using the second Bluetooth module.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to a hearing aid system, and more
particularly to a hearing aid system comprising Bluetooth linked
sound input and sound output devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A hearing aid is defined and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and is an electroacoustic device which is
designed to amplify sound for the wearer, usually with the aim of
making speech more intelligible, and to correct impaired hearing as
measured by audiometry.
Many categories of hearing aids exist, such as behind the ear, on
the ear, in the ear, in the canal, body worn aids, and many more.
One difficulty in the use of such hearing aids is the restricted
independent mobility between the speaker and the user of the
hearing aid. Normally a speaker must remain close to the wearer of
a hearing aid so that the hearing aid will receive the spoken sound
clearly enough and with enough volume to be useful to the
wearer.
Body worn aids are an older form of hearing aid that consisted of a
case and an earmold connected by a wire. This wire still constricts
independent mobility, distances between the wearer and the speaker,
and restricts the number of people that can participate in the
conversation due to its one-to-one correspondence between
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A Bluetooth hearing aid system comprises a sound output device
having a first processor coupled to a first memory, to a first
Bluetooth module, to a sound processing module including an
amplifier and a speaker, and to a first power supply; and a sound
input device comprising a second processer coupled to a second
memory, to a second Bluetooth module selectively Bluetooth linkable
with the first Bluetooth module, to a sound input module, and to a
second power supply. The sound input device may further comprise an
aux jack configured to connect via a cable to an external source of
audio signals. The hearing aid system may further comprise a second
sound input device selectively Bluetooth linkable to the sound
input device with the hearing aid system further configured so that
audio signals based on audio signals received by the second sound
input device are transmitted via Bluetooth signals from the second
sound input device to the sound input device, and audio signals
based on the audio signals received by the sound input device are
transmitted via Bluetooth signals from the sound input device to
the sound output device. The sound input device may be configured
to combine audio signals received from the plurality of second
sound input devices into a single audio signal before transmission
via a Bluetooth signals to the sound output device.
A method of operating a Bluetooth hearing aid system comprising a
sound output device having a first processor coupled to a first
memory, to a first Bluetooth module, to a sound processing module
including an amplifier and a speaker, and to a first power supply;
and a sound input device having a second processer coupled to a
second memory, to a second Bluetooth module, to a sound input
module, and to a second power supply; the method comprising forming
a Bluetooth link between the first and the second Bluetooth
modules, transmitting audio signals via Bluetooth signals from the
sound input device to the sound output device, and the sound
processing module outputting the received audio signals after
amplification to the speaker. The method may further comprise the
sound input device adjusting audio volume level of the audio
signals to a default level before transmission via the Bluetooth
signals to the sound output device. The Bluetooth hearing aid
system may further comprise a second sound input device and the
method further comprises forming a Bluetooth link between the
second sound input device and the sound input device, transmitting
audio signals based on audio signals received by the second sound
input device via Bluetooth signals from the second sound input
device to the sound input device, and transmitting audio signals
based on the audio signals received by the sound input device via
Bluetooth signals from the sound input device to the sound output
device.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt
become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that
is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a sound output device.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a sound input device
compatible for use with the sound output device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a hearing aid system which shows a sound output device
linked to one or more sound input devices by a Bluetooth link.
FIG. 4 is a hearing aid system that permits multiple sound output
devices to be Bluetooth linked to a single sound input device.
FIG. 5 is a hearing aid system that includes at least one sound
output device and first and second sound input devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a sound output device 100
which is at least a portion of a hearing aid as defined and
regulated by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The
sound output device 100 comprises a processor 110, a sound
processing module 120, a memory 130, a Bluetooth module 140, and a
power supply 150. Depending upon the embodiment, the sound
processing module 120 may comprise a speaker 122, an equalizer 124,
and/or an amplifier 126. The Bluetooth module 140 qualifies under
one or more standards defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest
Group (SIG) and is configured to send and/or receive
short-wavelength ultra-high frequency radio waves in the
industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band from 2.4 GHz to 2.485
GHz, defined herein as Bluetooth signals, from one or more linked
Bluetooth devices. Additionally, throughout this application use of
the term "Bluetooth" is intended to refer to the technologies
defined under one or more standards defined by the Bluetooth
Special Interest Group rather than the source of those
technologies.
The processor 110 is configured to control one or more operations
of the sound output device 100 by exercising appropriate computer
codes stored in the memory 130 which may be of any type suitable
for the purpose. The power supply 150 provides operational power to
the sound output device 100, and while the power supply 150 is
preferably a battery, may be of another type such as solar power or
received from a source external to the sound output device 100.
In general, audio signals derived from Bluetooth signals received
by the Bluetooth module 140 are routed to the sound processing
module 120 and outputted via the speaker 122. Before being
outputted, the audio signals may be processed using the equalizer
124 to filter out unwanted noise and to limit the outputted audio
signals to one or more desired frequency bands or to amplify
desired frequency bands relative to undesired frequency bands. The
audio signals may be amplified by the amplifier 126 to levels
preferred by a user.
The sound output device 100 may be realized in hardware, in
software, or in a combination of hardware and software according to
design considerations.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a sound input device 200
compatible for use with the sound output device 100 of FIG. 1. The
sound input device 200 comprises a processor 210, a sound input
module 220, a memory 230, a Bluetooth module 240, and a power
supply 250. Depending upon the embodiment, the sound input module
220 may also comprise a microphone 260 and/or an aux jack 262. When
present, the aux jack 262 may be connected via a cable to an
auxiliary device so that audio signals may be received from the
auxiliary device via the cable. The auxiliary device may be, inter
alia, a cell phone, an MP3 player, a television, or an external
microphone.
Also depending upon the embodiment, the sound input device 200 may
further comprise a speaker 290, an equalizer 264, and/or an
amplifier 280. Similarly to the Bluetooth module 140, the Bluetooth
module 240 qualifies under one or more standards defined by the
Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and is configured to send
and/or receive short-wavelength ultra-high frequency radio waves in
the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band from 2.4 GHz to
2.485 GHz from one or more linked Bluetooth devices.
The processor 210 may be configured to control one or more
operations of the sound input device 200 by exercising appropriate
computer codes stored in the memory 230 which may be of any type
suitable for the purpose. The power supply 250 provides operational
power to the sound input device 200, and while the power supply 250
is also preferably a battery for increased mobility, may be of
another type or received from a source external to the sound input
device 200.
Audio signals received by the sound input device 200 via the
microphone 260, aux jack 262, and/or the Bluetooth module 240 are
prepared according to a Bluetooth protocol and transmitted via
Bluetooth signals via the Bluetooth module 240 to a second linked
Bluetooth device. In some embodiments the second linked Bluetooth
device is the sound output device 100 of FIG. 1. In other
embodiments, the second linked Bluetooth device in another sound
input device 200 which in turn relays the received audio signals,
after optional processing, to the sound output device 100 of FIG.
1.
Before transmission to the second linked Bluetooth device, audio
signals received by the sound input device 200 via the microphone
260, aux jack 262, and/or the Bluetooth module 240 may be processed
using the equalizer 264 to filter out unwanted noise and to limit
the outputted audio signals in one or more desired frequency bands
and/or the amplifier 126 altering volume of the audio signals to
levels suitable for reception by the sound output device 100.
The sound input device 200 may be realized in hardware, in
software, or in a combination of hardware and software according to
design considerations.
A hearing aid system 300 is shown in FIG. 3 which shows a sound
output device 100 linked to one or more sound input devices 200 by
a Bluetooth link. When the hearing aid system 300 is turned on, the
Bluetooth link(s) may be made automatically or use user input to
make the connection to one or more turned on and trusted Bluetooth
devices. Examples of user input to make the connection may be,
inter alia, pushing a button, or speaking to the device. When
speaking to the device is used to make the connection, the speech
may be any vocalized sound within a predetermined range or it may
be a password or code that is compared using computer code stored
in the memory 230 with an authorization password or code also
stored in the memory 230, with a connection being formed only when
the comparison is determined a match. Some embodiments connect to
specific sound input devices 200 according to the specific password
or code. For example, a code of "connect to grandpa" may cause a
connection to a sound output device 100 worn by "grandpa" to be
formed but not cause a connection to another sound output device
100 to be formed.
Preferably, all devices within the hearing aid system have been
previously paired and link automatically using stored
authorizations or other methods known to one skilled in the art,
but this is not a limitation of the hearing aid system 300. Also
preferably, all devices within the hearing aid system by default
may be set to be "non-discoverable", although some embodiments
allow this setting to be changed so that Bluetooth links may be
formed with new devices not already considered "trusted".
The hearing aid system 300 is suitable for use when the sound
output device 100 is located at a distance from the sound input
device 200, as long as the two devices remain within acceptable
Bluetooth range, perhaps 10 or fewer meters, does not require close
proximity of the devices, and does not restrict independent
mobility of users of the devices as long as they remain within the
Bluetooth range. An example of use may be when a user preferring
use of the sound output device 100 is located across the room from
a user of the sound input device 200.
FIG. 3 shows a sound output device 100 Bluetooth linked to two
sound input devices 200. As Bluetooth specifications allow up to
eight Bluetooth devices to be connected within a single piconet,
the hearing aid system 300 permits, but does not require, a
plurality of sound input devices 200 to simultaneously be Bluetooth
linked to a single sound output device 100. This can be
advantageous, for example, when a user who prefers the use of sound
output device 100 wishes to easily engage in conversation with a
plurality of people scattered across a living room environment.
In general practice, a sound output device 100 would include the
equalizer 124 and the amplifier 126, but this is not a requirement.
Because the hearing aid system 300 may optionally include the sound
output device 100 acting as a master device linked to a plurality
of sound input devices 200 acting as slave devices, the burden of
processing multiple incoming audio signals substantially
simultaneously may prove too much to handle for the sound output
device 100, which is normally limited in processing power due to
the desired small size and small power supply.
Therefore, some embodiments may include an equalizer 264 and/or
amplifier 280 in one or more of the sound input devices 200. This
allows the sound input device 200 to pre-filter noises and
frequency bands (which may be unique to each sound input device 200
due to environmental factors, etc.) and/or perhaps even adjust
amplification of the audio signals to a default level common to
each of the linked sound input devices 200 so that the audio
signals received by the sound output device 100 are all
preprocessed of a similar volume level, minimizing workload, size,
and complexity in the sound output device 100. It is preferred,
however, that the sound output device 100 does comprise at least an
amplifier 126 to allow a user to adjust the final volume outputted
from the speaker 122 to a preferred level. Indication of the common
default level may be hardware defined or stored in the memory 130
or 230.
In some embodiments, sound input devices 200 provide a user of the
respective sound input device 200 means of altering volume of audio
signals to be different than the common default level when desired.
For example, a user of the sound output device 100 may be listening
to soft background music provided by an MP3 player connected to the
aux jack 262 of a first sound input device 200 while conversing
with a friend using a second sound input device 200. In this case,
the audio volume on the first sound input device 100 may be lowered
from the common default level and/or the audio volume on the second
sound input device may be raised above the common default level to
provide the desired respective audio volumes to the user of the
sound output device 100.
FIG. 4 shows a hearing aid system 400 that permits multiple sound
output devices 100 to be Bluetooth linked to a single sound input
device 200, which in some embodiments may be acting as a master
device. Here, audio signals received by the sound input device 200
are transmitted via Bluetooth signals to each of the sound output
devices 100. Similar to the hearing aid system 300, audio signals
may be filtered by the equalizer 264 of the sound input device 200
to simplify processing in the sound output devices 100. It is
preferred, but not necessary, in this situation that audio
processing such as frequency filtering, except for possible noise
reduction and volume adjustment to the default common level, is
performed independently in each of the sound output devices 100 due
to the fact that different frequencies may be desired at each of
the sound output devices 100.
FIG. 5 illustrates a hearing aid system 500 suitable for use in
some environments. The hearing aid system 500 includes at least one
sound output device 100 and first and second sound input devices
200. The hearing aid system 500 primarily differs from previous
embodiments in that a first sound input device 200 acts as a relay
device to the second sound input device 200. The first sound input
device 200 acting as the relay device may receive audio signals via
the microphone 260, the aux jack 262, and/or the Bluetooth module
240 and transmit the audio signals to each sound output device 100
Bluetooth linked to the first sound input device 200 in the hearing
aid system 500. The second sound input device 200 is also Bluetooth
linked to the first sound input device 200, but is not directly
linked to the sound output device 100 other than both may be part
of a same piconet or other network.
Audio signals that are received by the second sound input device
200 are transmitted via Bluetooth signals to the first sound input
device 200, which relays them and any other received audio signal
(after optional processing) via Bluetooth signals to the sound
output device 100 for eventual output by the speaker 122.
In the hearing aid system 500, audio signal processing such as
noise reduction and/or adjusting volume to the default level may be
performed independently by sound input devices 200, but a simpler
method may be for the first sound input device to perform the noise
reduction and/or adjusting volume to the common default level for
all Bluetooth linked sound input devices 200. In some embodiments,
all audio signals incoming to the first sound input device 200 are
combined either pre or post filtering prior to transmission so that
only a single Bluetooth signal is received by the sound output
device 100, simplifying processing in the sound output device 100
when compared with reception of multiple signals relayed from the
first sound input device 200 round-robin style. As with the hearing
aid system 400 depicted in FIG. 4, it is preferred that filtering
of audio frequencies is done independently by the sound output
device 100 according to the desire of the user.
It is noted that the sound input device 200 used alone, with
another device, or in any, some, or all of the hearing aid systems
300, 400, and 500 is not limited to comprising a single Bluetooth
module 140. Some embodiments of the sound input device 200 may
comprise two or more Bluetooth modules 140, which may be operated
independently when desired. One possible use for multiple Bluetooth
modules 140 in a single sound input device 200 may be so that each
of the Bluetooth modules 140 can form an independent network with
other Bluetooth enabled devices.
One advantage of the hearing aid system 500 besides mobility of
users is that users of either the sound output device 100 or the
second sound input device 200 can join or leave a conversation (or
TV show) without interrupting other users of the same hearing aid
system 500, a feature particularly useful in group situations.
Furthermore, because the first (and/or second) sound input device
200 may operate in half-duplex more, bandwidth can be increased to
easily accommodate more sound input devices 200. Use of the first
sound input device 200 also effectively extends a maximum distance
between a second sound input device 200 and a sound input device
100 to approximately double the normal effective Bluetooth range of
about 10 meters. In some embodiments, scatternets may be formed of
any combination of at least one sound input device 200 and at least
one sound output device 100. For example, a second sound input
device 200 may transmit a Bluetooth signal comprising an audio
signal to a first sound input device 200, which in turn transmits a
Bluetooth signal comprising the modified or unmodified audio signal
to another first sound input device 200, which in turn transmits a
Bluetooth signal comprising the modified or unmodified audio signal
to a sound output device 100. Additionally, formulation of
scatternets may be used to further extend the maximum useable
distance and/or to increase the number of users of the hearing aid
system 500 beyond eight.
In summary, a hearing aid system is disclosed which permits
independent mobility and distance between the user of the sound
input device 200 and the user of the sound output device 100 via
the use of Bluetooth signals linking the devices. Maximizing audio
signal processing outside of the sound output device 100 simplifies
the tiny circuitry of the sound output device 100. Introduction of
a default volume level applied to plural sound input devices 200
simplifies volume control in the sound output device 100 for the
user. Using one of the sound input devices 200 as an intermediate
device in the network increases flexibility in group situations and
increases the usefulness for all users of the hearing aid
system.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *